In almost all essays, from narrative to expository, there exists an essential moment that captures the point and main theme of the literary work. In “Joyas Voladoras” and “A Tale of Two Markets, the central moments are imperative parts that allow the reader to fully understand the idea of the essay.
Although both pieces are extremely different with the authors utilizing a different technique to demonstrate their theme, they each have a turning point which encapsulates the entire essay and puts forth their deeper thoughts. In Joyas Voladoras, Brian Doyle chooses to change from a focus on specific examples to a broader idea in order to convey his central moment. Doyle uses an almost scientific-like tone for the majority of the essay talking about the hearts of many animals, especially the Hummingbird and Blue Whale. It is when he moves from the facts to the opinion where his turning point is obvious. With the lines “We all churn inside. So much held in a heart in a lifetime. So much held in a heart in a day, an hour, a moment”, we come across the true purpose of the piece. Brian Doyle uses the factual descriptions of real hearts to lead us into his supposition that the heart is a fragile yet beautiful intangible concept that is dependent on our experiences and others.
“A Tale of Two Markets” takes a different approach. Through the use of relaxed story-telling the reader is transplanted into the story and comes upon the central point as the piece progresses. Through witty language and metaphors, the story comes alive. The turning point is discovered after using a contrast between two grocery stores: one an over-expensive store catered towards the upper-middle class and the other a cheap “ghetto” store where one could get enough food to last a week on a measly paycheck. The central point is uncovered in the lines “I realized now that it’s not just a lifestyle for sale. When I scan my membership card and move through the checkout line, I add fragments to the pixelated image of who I am…” In these lines the author is able to clearly connect how the two stores make the customers feel which thereby changes who the customers are and who they wish to be. In this short narrative, consumer identity and how this shapes us is examined.
Cassidy Lynn 